Filling head



April 27, 1954 c DAY ET AL FILLING HEAD! Filed Feb. 24, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS CARL L. DAY FREDERICK E. FAUTH Mai/Mg um ATTORNEY5 FILLING HEAD 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 24, 1950 (LIQUID LEVEL INVENTORS w llll n CARL L. MY w FREDERICK E. FAUTH BYW Mum r I I. e m E p w a c s V, 7 i RM? 2 E E s T R N P W U 0 m m B v M CLOSED STAGE COPERABLE FOR BLOW OUT) ATTORNEYS FILLING HEAD 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 24, 1950 SNIF TING STAGE FILLING STAGE A, 46 il 1 I07 INVENTORS IIIIIIIlIII/ F REDERICK E. FAUTH 1Z5; (Mam ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 27, 1954 FILLING HEAD Carl L. Day and'FrederickEl Fauth, Baltimore,

Md., assigno'rs, to Crown Cork & Seal Company, lrialtir'nor,v Md., a corporation of New York Application Fcbruary24, 1950,'Serial No. 145,938

20 Claims. 1.

The present invention; "relates-to filling heads ofv the. counterpressure. type. Such heads. are customarily used onfillingzmachines for filling bottles withcarhonated beverages.

In the fillingof carbonated::beverages, the carbonated liquid has been .fiowed into the bottle at. .a fairly slow rate to avoid foaming Lduring liquid; flow. Then; after: the bottle has been filledxto the. proper height it is. usual to relieve or sniftsomeofythe headspace pressure to atmosphere. through ausmall bore passage and before. the. bottle mouth is unsealed from the. filling head .for 'theapplicationiof, "a .cap. The. purpose of such smftinggistouavoid the foaming which would result if. all of the-headspace pressure shouldbe. suddenly relieved to. atmosphere. by the movement of. the. mouth .OfSthB bottle. from the filling head...

In order. to increase; the. output. of. carbonated beverage filling-machines, it is desirable to fiow the liquid. intouthe bottleat a faster rate than heretofore. It hasben foundthat .if the. liquid is relatively cold,.-suchnfaster fiow'iactually does not induce as muchfoaming during. liquid flow as might. be expected. In addition, if the flow of liquid .is rapid enough .to: complete. filling; the bottle to the desired height'a .few second before shifting is performed: the liquid reaches a state of equilibrium even if itsh'as foamed to. some-extent during liquid flow.

Furthermore, permitting. the liquid to rest before-shifting minimizes the possibilityof foaming either duringusnifting onwhen the bottle is subsequently released from the. fillin-gihead:

An object of 'theinvention is to. provide a filling head which; is of. such design asto permit a maximum rate of liquid flow therethrough.

Another object of the invention issto provide a filling head of such construction that-mostv of its elements can be machined from standard stock, rather than .ii-omnspecial castings.

A'further object is toprovideafilling head including relatively simple-operating means.

An additional object i'sto provide a-filling head Of such-design thatit Will not fill bottlawhidh would leak during fillingfor example,- bottles having a chipped-mouth. I

Qther. objects andadva'ntages of the invention will be apparentrrom :the following. specification andiaccompanyin'g. drawings- Referring to thedrawings: Figure; -1 is an -elevationzof ithe fillihg. headfni ,the presentcinventlon;the view-cshowingzrthezfilrmg-head attached to a reservoir.

Figure 251's auyelevation;showifigiarplurality of the filling heads attached to a reservoir, the View looking toward-Figure 1 from the right.

Figures 3 to 7 are axial sections through the filling head of theinvention, with portions shown in elevation and -,-other-portions broken away. The five figures respectively show successive stages ofjoperation of the filling head.

Figure 8 is a horizontal section on the line 88 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a horizontal section on the line 9-9 of, Figure 7, and v Figure 10 is'a fragmentary perspective view of the counterpressure gas valve.v

The filling head .of. the present invention and its operation generally may be described as follows:

Each filling head comprisesa housing ID including an upper tubular portion/ H having a liquid chamber [2 fixed to its lower end. As is best indicated in Figures 1 and 3, the filling head may be secured to the periphery of the rotating superstructure ofa filling machine by having the liquid chamber fixed to the periphery of a flange l4 extendingfro m the centrally located filling reservoir of the filling machine. A liquid supply pipe [6: extends radially from the filling reservoir to deliver liquid, such as carbonated water or carbonatedwater and syrup, to the liquid chamber 'l-Zof; "each filling head. The outflow of water from liquid chamber 12 is controlled by a liquidval-ve i8 fixed to a lower shiftingtube 20 which. is reciprocable centrally of housing IS. A; fine mesh screen 2! extends across-the outlet of chamber l2; below liquid valve l;8 A spring nurse'sliquid valve lB'toraised or openpositionthough the liquid valve willno-rmally be in the closedposition of Figure 3 by reason of the pressure'oi liquidac'ting upon the upper'surfaceof the valve.

At. its upper end; housing. [0 is connected by a radial pipe.24.xto.a. manifold 2.6 concentric with the filling reservoir 'oi the. machine. Manifold 26.is connectedtothe. periportion oi the filling reservoir of the machine-so that a gas pressure will exist therein;corresponding; to. the. gas pressure; acting on-. the.surfaceofthe liquid in the reservoir.

Theflow of counterpressure gas. through the filling head is controlled by a counterpressure valveincludinga sleeve28 which cooperates with ports and avalveseat on the upper end of'sniftinn-tube as.- well as with a valve seat on the upper-.iendafof a. counterpressure tube 3 ilsrecipro- .cablejivi-thin-sniftingtube-ZG; Sleeve. 28 depends iroman upper shift tube-32: whichis-fslidable in 3 the upper end of housing 10. Above housing Hi the upper snift tube 32 opens to a snift outlet line 34 which, as indicated in Figure 1, exhausts to atmosphere within the shell which surrounds the filling reservoir.

The various tubes and associated valves of the filling head are operated to predetermined vertical positions relative to housing it by the action of an operating lever 36 pivoted at 38 upon a collar dd which is vertically slidable upon the exterior or housing It. Lever 36 and collar 40 are raised and lowered with respect to housing is by cams such as 42a of Figure l and which cams are spaced about the circular path of travel of the filling heads with the rotating filling reservoir.

Referring to the general operation of the filling head, Figure 3 shows the head in closed position, via, with operating lever 36 and operating collar at lowered with respect to housing it and with all valves in closed position so that there is no flow of either gas or liquid to or from the reservoir. I

Figure 4 shows the tubes and valves in the position occupied during the counterpressure fiow stage. This position is brought about by the action of a counterpressure earn 420. in raising operating lever 33 and collar 40 with respect to housing it. As is indicated by the flow indicating arrows GP or" Figure 4, counterpressure gas from the filling reservoir enters filling head by line 24 and'fiows downwardly in housing ill, upwardly in sleeve 28 and then downwardly through counterpressure tube 30 into a bottle. When the pressure in the upon the surface of the liquid in the filling reservoir, spring 22 will raise liquid valve it to the position shown in Figure so that liquid may now fiow from the filling reservoir and liquid chamber 12 and into the bottle as indicated by the arrows L. Also, a filling cam #27) of Figure 5 will raise operating lever 36 and operating collar it to the position relative to housing i0 shown in Figure 5. During this liquid fiow, the counterpressure gas in the bottle will be returned through the counterpressure tube in a reverse direction to that followed during the counterpressure flow of Figure 4. This fiow is indicated by the arrows GB of Figure 5.' When the level of the liquid in the bottle covers the ports in the lower end i of the counterpres sure tube 30, the return fiow of gas will cease and the built-up pressure beneath the screen 2| will prevent the liquid level from rising in the bottle. At about the same instant,

operating lever 36 and collar 40 will be lowered by the shifting cam 420 of Figure 6 to the shifting stage position of Figure 6, thereby closing liquid valve l8 and, through a yoke 44, depressing counterpressure tube 30 and an upper snift valve 49 so that pressure in the bottle will be vented to atmosphere as indicated by the arrows S of Figure 6. Operating lever 36 and collar at then will be slightly lifted to the position of Figure 3 so that all passages through the filling head will be closed. If it is desired, operating lever to and collar 40 may be momentarily lifted to cause gas at reservoir pressure to flow through counterpressure tube 36 to blow any liquid out of that tube.

The detailed construction and operation of the filling head is hereinafter described.

The tubular portion H and liquid chamber i2 Which comprise the filling head housing it have a vertical extent substantially corresponding to that of the filling reservoir. The liquid chamber bottle is balanced with that acting I2 is soldered or welded to the lower end of the tubular portion H and a resilient valve seat 50 is held in the lower and open end of chamber I2 by a ring nut 5|. As indicated in Figure 5, ring nut 5! includes an inwardly and downwardly extending fiange 52 and the inner edge of this flange defines the outer circumference of the liquid fiow stream from the filling head. Flange 52 has a downwardly facing gasket 53 suitably fixed therein. A bottle centering bell 55 of usual form and including a resilient gasket 58 to engage the mouth of a bottle has its upper and inner surface arranged to seal against the gasket 53 of liquid chamber 12. In addition, the centering bell includes a central aperture 51 of the same size as the central aperture of the ring nut flange 52. The annular space defined between the justmentioned apertures and the outer surface of the snift tube 20 comprises the liquid discharge passage of the filling head.

As is shown in Figures 1 and 2, centering bell 55 is provided with horizontally extending lugs st and a rod Bl extends upwardly from each end of lug 60 and through a lateral extension 52 integral with liquid chamber 12.

Housing I0 is of tubular form and has its upper end closed by a threaded plug 64, plug 64 being centrally apertured so that upper counterpressure tube 32 is slidable therethrough. A seal is maintained between plug 64 and tube 32 by means of a nut 65 bearing upon suitable packing. As has been stated above, the gas pipe 24 communicating with the filling reservoir extends radially from the upper end of housing l0.

Operating collar 40 is vertically slidable upon the exterior of housing i0. Collar #36 is fitted with an inwardly spring-pressed ball 68 adapted to engage notches 61, 68, and 69 formed in the opposed surface of the housing It. By this arrangement, ball 66 will hold collar to in any vertical position to which lever 36 moves the collar. It will be observed that notch ill is somewhat longer than the other two notches. Referring to Figure 8, it will be observed that operating lever 36 is bifurcated at one end and that pivot bolt 38 extends horizontally through the bifurcated portion and through outwardly projecting cars 10 on collar 40. The bifurcated portion of lever 36 forms two arms H and the free ends of these arms are adapted to bear on the upper ends of the vertical rods 6! secured to centering bell 55 whenever rods 6| are raised by reason of a bottle lifting the centering bell. At its outer end, lever 36 has a roller 13 rotatable thereon for engagement with the operating cams of the machine. A lug 14 projects outwardly from collar 40 and the upper end of a set screw 15 threaded through the lug is arranged to limit the downward swinging movement of lever 35 with respect to collar 40.

The lower shifting tube 20 of the filling head is of slightly reduced diameter below liquid valve !8 so as to increase the cross sectional area of the annular liquid discharge passage which surrounds that tube. As is illustrated in Figure 3, the lower end 15 of tube 20 is inwardly and upwardly beveled to thereby have a close fit upon a spreader TI fixed to and surrounding the nozzle of counter-pressure tube 30. Shifting tube 20 is slidable through a central aperture in screen 2!. Because liquid valve i8 is secured to the shifting tube 20, the valve and tube will always move together, whether by action of operating lever 36 or spring 22.

Referring to Figure 5, sniiting tube is has a 2-4 a collar 80 fixed to "its exterior adjacent its upper end, collar '80 being of such overall diameter that a space for gas fiow will be provided between the collar and the bore of the housing I0. Above collar 80, tube 20 is of slightly reduced outside diameter and a packing ring 8| surrounds thetube and rests upon collar 00. Immediately above packing, alower series of ports 82 is formed in tube 20. A second and upper series of ports '83 is formed the tube at a point slightly spaced above the lower ports 82: Tube 20-terminates immediately above the series of ports-83 andincludes a slight inwardly extending flange 84 adapted to closely engage the outer surfaceof counterpressure tube 30.

Counterpressure tube 38 has a nozzle -85 threaded upon its lower end.. The tip 86 of nozzle 85 is of conical form to center a bottle moving upwardly'about the; nozzle. Adjacent its lower. end nozzle.85 is providedwitn one or more gas ports. 8.1;. Thespreader TI is formed upon the upper endof; nozzle B5 to cooperate with the beveled lowerend. I6 of snifting tube 20.. Spreader. TI is of .sufiicient. diameter that liquid flowing downwardly about the sniftingtube. 2.0 will be deflected outwardly to flow down. alongthe inner .wall of the mouthof .a. bottle.

The outside diameter of counterpressure tube 30 is such that a spacefor flow of .counterpressuregas. will he provided between that tube :and the. surrounding sniftingtube 20. In other words, sniftingflow occurs. in .the. space between the tubes. 20..and. 30... The bore of counterpressure tube 30 is of adequate diameter to permit the necessary flow; of. counterpressure gas. As best shownin Figure v10, the upper edge of counterpressure tube .30. is belled to provide an upwardly facing annular seat 90.. A. spring QI surrounds tubei30 between the undersurface of the belled seat 9.0v and the upper flange .84 of sniftingtube 20. Spring 91; thereby urges counterpressure tube 3.0 upwardly with respect. to snifting tube 20 whenever tube 3.0 isfre'e for'such. upward movement,

The .sleevei2fl. which, with the upper ends of 7 the tubes 20. and .30 forms. the counterpressure gascontrolling valve, is of sufiicient inside'diameter thata space will be provided therein. and outwardly of the counterpressure tube 30 for flow of .gas.. The. outside diameter of sleeve 2.8- is such that. a space for gas flow will be provided outside thesleeve. and within housing I0. The lower end of sleeve 28 (Figure 10). is inwardly flanged as. indicated atx95, the inner edge of the flange having a close fit against the outer surface ofxthe upper end of lower snifting tube. 20. Flange 95 is. of such .axial extent that when sleeve 28 is in. the lowered position indicated in Figure 3, the flange will completely cover the lower series of ports 82. The series of ports 82 and 83 are spaced by such distance axially of tube .20 .that. flange 95 may be positioned between both series of ports without restricting ports of either series.

The upper shifting. tube 32 has its lower end enlarged as: indicated at 91 and the enlargement haszasealed connection with. the upper end of the'sleevei 28. The. extreme lower end of upper sniftingtube. 32 .is within sleeve 28 and of less diameter than the inner surface of the sleeve .28. Radial. ports. 98rprovided. in this portion of tube 32=open to the interior of sleeve 28 and to the boreof-tube-M- The lower endof the bore of by avalve disk I 00 ofresilient materialwhich controls flow toand from the upper end of counterpressuretube-"30. As has been stated above, the upper snifting tube 32' is axially movable through the packed aperture in plug 64 which closes the upper end of housing I0. Above housing I 0, upper snifting tube 32' is threadedly connected to a fitting I02 extending upwardly from the tube. The extreme upper end of tube 32 may havean apertured sleeve I03- fitted therein to restrict the flow of gas and also to center the lower end of a spring. I04 fitted within a bore I 05' of fitting I02. A'valve I06 is mounted in the upper end of" spring, I04, the valve being of, piston type to includea reduced central. portionindicated at I01. As is? best indie cated in Figure 3, the reduced portion I01 of valve I06 will be positioned opposite. the mouth of snift. exhaust pipe 34 when valve I06 is held closed by spring I04. As is. hereinafter explained, spring I04 is of greater strength than the spring- 9I which urges" counterpressure tube 30 up:-.

wardly.

The fitting I02 has a slot or eye H0 extending diametrically through its upper portion and the bight of. yoke 44- extends throughthis slot. As'is hereinafter explained, when lifting action. is exerted upon yoke 44 by the operating collar 40-,- fitting I02, upper snift tube 32- and" sleeve 28. will be lifted. When yoke 44 is lowered. to an intermediate position, the valvedisk I 00 will close the upper end of counterpressure tube 30 andthe: lower end of sleeve 28 will be inv sealed engagement with the packing 8I- onsnift tube20. Still further downward movement of yoke 44 will bring the bight of the yoke into engagement with the r upper snift valve 46 to depress that valveand permit flow from upper snift tube. 32' to the snift exhaust pipe 34.

Operation- As has been indicated above, a series of. filling heads of the present invention would be connected to the filling tank or reservoir of a rotary bottle filling machineby means of liquid lines I6 extending from the lower and liquid containing portion of the reservoir to the liquid chamber I2 of each filling head. A gas line extends from the upper or gas containing portion of the. reservoir to the gas manifold 25- which, inturn, is connected to the upper portion of each filling head housing I0. The filling reservoir wouldbe of any well-known counterpressure type adapted to maintain liquid at a substantially constant level therein and with asubstantially constant pressure of gas. above the liquid.

Close stage (preliminary) top surface of the fitting 62 in: which the liqu'id chamber I2 is formed.

When a syruped or'an empty bottle movesup wardly toward the flllingheadthe ,inciinedinner surface of the. centering bell will itend to center the bottle: with respect to: nozzlet'fi be-fore the: mouth of the bottle comes intoenfgagement. with: the sealing ring. as. The bohi'cablower end-" of the counterpressure tube 30 will also have a centering action with respect to the bottle. When the bottle has lifted the centering bell 55 into sealed relation against the packing ring 53, the bottle and filling head will be in sealed relation. As is shown by solid lines in Figure 1, the upper ends of the rods Si will now be in contact with the arms ll of operating lever 36, though the operating lever will still rest upon the stop bolt 15.

Counter'pressure flow stage With the bottle now sealed to the filling head, the rotation of the filling reservoir and filling table will bring the roller 13 of operating lever 36 into engagement with the counterpressure cam 42a, thereby lifting the arm from the posi tion illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 to the position illustrated in Figure 4. Because the arms ll of lever 36 are bearing upon the upper ends of the centering bell rods 6|, the rods will serve as a fulcrum for lever 36. Therefore, the upward swinging of lever 36 will cause sleeve 40 to move upwardly along the housing it to such an extent that ball 68 will move out of the notch 51 and into engagement with the notch 68 of housing it. The spring-pressed ball will hold sleeve 40 in this elevated position even if cam 4201 does not extend along the full path of travel of the filling head during the counterpressure fiow stage.

It will be observed that because the rods 5i fixed to the centering bell 55 serve as the fulcrum for lever 36, the filling head will not be operated if no bottle is lifted to the filling head upon a container supporting platform. In other words, if the filling head fails to receive a bottle, the centering bell 55 and rods 6! will remain in the lowered position indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1. Therefore, even though the operating rod 36 subsequently contacts with the various operating cams such as 320., these cams will simply swing lever 36 about its pivot 38' and no lifting action will be exerted upon sleeve 40.

The lifting of operating sleeve 40 to the position of Figure 4 causes yoke 44 to also lift, with the result that the bight of the yoke will exert a lifting action in the eye Iii} of the shift tube fitting Hi2. Hence, upper shift tube 32 and sleeve 28 will thereby be lifted so that the lower edge 35 of sleeve 28 will ring 8| and upwardly along lower shifting tube '20 to a point between the upper and lower ports 82 and 83. The lifting of sleeve 28 will also move valve disk "it out of engagement with the seat 96 at the upper end of counterpressure tube 35]. During the lifting of valve disk liiil, spring 9! will also lift the counterpressure tube 3%] with respect to lower snift tube 26 until the spreader TI on the counterpressure tube nozzle contacts with the lower edge 16 of lower snift tube 20. The Shift tube will not lift because of the pressure of liquid in the reservoir and housing iii acting upon theupper surface of the liquid valve 8. The level of the liquid is indicated in Figures 3 to '7 and counterpressure gas will be present above this level in both housing Hi and the filling reservoir.

As soon as sleeve 28 uncovers the ports 82, and when it thereafter reaches the position shown in Figure 4, gas will flow through the lower port 82 of snift tube 2!] to fill that tube. However, the lifting of spreader if prevents outflow of any gas from the lower end of the shift tube. Instead, counterpressure gas will flow out of the shifting tube by the upper ports 83 and, as shown move away from the sealing swing further upwardly sleeve between the by the arrows CP of Figure 4, upwardly in sleeve 28 and downwardly into the upper end of counterpressure tube 30 and thence into the bottle. Because the upper snift valve N35 is closed, gas cannot escape to atmosphere through the upper snift tube 32.

As is usual, the counterpressure stage will be very brief because it will require only a short interval of time for the flow of gas into the bottle from housing It and the filling reservoir to bring the bottle to the same pressure as exists above the liquid in the reservoir. The fact that counterpressure exists in housing 10 outwardly of sleeve 28 shortens the path of counterpressure fiow and further expedites establishment of counterpressure in the bottle.

Filling stage When counterpressure has been established in the bottle, the pressure acting on the upper and lower sides of liquid valve it will be balanced and spring 22 will lift valve l8 so that liquid will flow downwardly into the bottle through the liquid outlet of chamber [2, viz, the annular space surrounding the shifting tube 29 and bounded by the central port in ring-nut 5i. Because this space is of maximum cross-section, the flow of liquid will be rapid. The flow of liquid is indicated by the arrows L of Figure 5.

At about the same moment that counterpressure is established in the bottle, the operating arm 4% will come into contact with a second or filling cam 42?) which is slightly higher than cam d'za. Therefore, as shown in Figure 5, arm 36 will with respect to the ful crum rods '65 so that operating sleeve 40 will correspondingly rise to position the spring-pressed ball 66 in the uppermost notch 69 of housing Ii].

The just-mentioned further lifting of operating sleeve 40 will cause yoke 44 to further lift the Shift valve fitting Hi2, upper snift tube 32 and sleeve 28 to compensate for the lifting of snift tube 29) occasioned by the lifting of the liquid valve l8. In other words, the lifting of the liquid valve If! by spring 22 which occurs when the pressure in the bottle is balanced with the pressure in the filling reservoir will result in carrying the snift tube 213 upwardly to a point where its lower ports 82 will be opposite the lower edge of sleeve 28. With snift tube 251 in this position relative to the edge 95 of sleeve 28, the counterpressure passage would be closed. Hence, the just-mentioned further lifting of sleeve 28 is necessary to maintain the lower edge $5 of that ports 52 and 83 of the shift tube. It will be understood that the filling cam 42b readily can be positioned to further lift sleeve 28 at the instant liquid valve i8 lifts.

With the elements of the filling head in the position illustrated in Figure 5, during the flow of liquid into the bottle, the counterpressure gas in the bottle will flow (as shown by the arrows GR) through the ports 8'! in nozzle 85, upwardly in counterpressure tube 36 to the interior of sleeve 28, and thence through the ports 83 and 82 of shifting tube 2E! to housing In and gas line 2% leading to the reservoir. The flow of liquid into the bottle and flow of gas from the bottle will continue until the liquid covers the ports 8"! so that no more gas can escape from the bottle. However, the liquid will rise slightly above this point by reason of the head of liquid in the filling reservoir. The gas in the bottle headspace above the level of the liquid will thereby be compressed to such an extent that little, if any, additional liquid ordinarily can flow downwardly through screen 2|. At any rate, such additional liquid as may flow into the bottle will result in upward movement of liquid into counterpressure' tube 35. That is, screen M is of sufficiently fine mesh that with the headspace gas at increased pressure, surface tension of the liquid, or' possibly capillarity, will prevent downward flow of liquid as well as upward escape of gas.

Leaking battle In the event that a bottle leaks :counterpressure forany reason, usually by reason of a chip in the mouth of the bottle, counterpressure will not be established in the-bottle during the counterpressure flow stage. Therefore, the pressure in the bottle will not be balanced with the pressure above the liquid in the filling reservoir and filling valve l8 will not open. As has been stated above, with a normal battle, sleeve 28 is given a second upward movement by filling cam 42b to compensate for the lifting of snift tube 29 with liquid valve is to thereby maintain the counterpressure flow passage open for return flow to the filling reservoir. However, if liquid valve i8 fails to rise because of the leak of pressure from the bottle, lower snift tube 28 will not rise, but will remain in theposition itoccupied. in the closed and counterpressure stages. Therefore, and asshown in Figure 7, when sleeve 28 is given "asecond lift by filling cam Mb, the lower edge 95-of sleeve 28'will be brought opposite the upper ports 83 of lower snift tube at. This will result in closing the counterpressure fiow path and prevent iurther. flow of gas from the filling reservoir into the leaking bottle. If such fiow of counterpressure could continue throughout the length of travel of the bottle during the filling stage, a waste of gas from the filling reservoir would occur, with resultant unbalancing of com ditions within the reservoir.

Sniftz'ng stage A shorttime after-th'eliouid in the bottle covers the port'- 81 in the-lower end of nounterpressure tubetfl, or very shortly thereatter; operating lever.

. 3'6: will comdin 'cohtaet'witha downwar ly facing i-"snift-.can1' 42c=."'rne-durat1on:or the intervar between the moment lid uid covers the pons si" and the contact of lever tdwith snift cam 42c will depend upon new long the: liquid is torrest-before shifting occurs. 7 Cam" 42c willimove operating lever-36 to the position i-llu's'tratedfln Figures by first swinging levers 6' downwardly onits pivot as until it contacts with Stop li'and runner forcing th'elever bodily-downward to siiciL-an extent that operating sleeve is will niove downwardly to bring ball 6G1 to the lower:'prn t ioriof the lowermost and longer notch 51 of'hou'sing w.

The: aboveemention'ed' downward movement of sleeve 49 will cause yoke. 4'4 to come: into: contact with theupper end-of. theupper shifting: valve ifi. However; theispring. 'lliliwhi'chiholdslvalve it upwardly and" seated .iififofifiliffi'cienfi strength that valve 46 will not be openedzat th'isitim'e; Instead,

snift fitting I02 will move downwardly with upper snift tube 32. to thereby'movet the'sleeve. downwardly along lower snift tubefZO. until thetlower edge, 95-of sleeve 2'8comesinto contact with packing ring 8i and'valve disk' 100 contacts with. the upper seat end: ilflcof counterpressure tube 3%. Then spring =9! will "be compressedso that sleeve 28 will continue to move downwardly and exert force on lowerssnift tube ZllyagainStspring; 22 sothatiliquid; valve; ij8;wi1l.close. CDllIltEliepresis sure tube can move further downwardly than lower snift tube 20 and, therefore, tube 30 will carry spreader ll down and out of contact with the lower end of lower snift tube 20. Thus the lower end of the snift tube will be open to the headspace of the bottle.

With liquid valve it in contact with its seat to limit further downward movement of lower snift tube 2e, and withthe lower end of sleeve 28 in firm contact with ring ti on tube 20, further downward movement of sleeve 28 and upper snift tube 32 will be prevented. Therefore, the final downward movement of yoke 44 with operating sleeve to will beapplied against the relatively strong spring H34 which has heretofore held upper snift valve 46 upward in seated position. When valve its is thus opened, the headspace pressure in' the bottle will be relieved as shown by the arrows S of Figure 6, i; e., through the'lower snift valve formed by spreader H and the bottom edge it of lower snift tube 20, upwardly through tube 29 into sleeve 28' and thence by the ports 98 into upper snift tube 32. From tube 32 the sniftedgas will move past upper snift valve it andinto the exhausttube 34 which opens to atmosphere.

It will be understood that the snifting stage is extremely brief as compared to the filling stage.

C'Zoseclstage i final) At 'thecompletion of thesniitingzstage;operatmg lever'36 will contactw-ith an upwardly facing cam 42c which will lift. the-lever 36 to the position of Figure'3, thereby raising operating sleeve 4i; sufficiently to bringthe. ball 66. into the upper portion. of the lower notch 61. This willlift yoke it enough to permit valve: spring. 884' to close upper snift valve 46. Hence, all of the flow passages. through the filling'h'ead will. be closed. The fact that spreader. ii is still outiof. engagement with the lower edge of theisnift. tube 20 cannot result insniftiug flow. to atmosphere beupwardly'into the counterpressure tube so during the "latter-portion of the .filling'stage. It is; frequently: desirable? to eject: 'su'ch liquid from the tube. before-afresh bottle is placed beneath the. filling head. If such'blowmut is desired, an upwardly facing camf will. be provided. upon the machine between the CIGSiHgl cam. 42d and the counterpressure camv 42a. More particularly, the

blow-out cam will be positioned in that portion of. the path of travel of a filling head during which. no bottlev is positioned below thefilling head. The blow-out cam must be of sufllcient height to raise sleeve 40 even though the. fulcrum rods 6i are'zoutof the path of movementoi lever 36. That 'is, the. camipreferabl'y will be high enough to lift the 'outer'portion' of lever 36 sufficiently that'it will contact with. the boss 56a in which ball 66 is mounted. When this contact occurs, sleeve 40 will be bodily lifted enough to very slightly raise the loweredge of sleevei28 out of Contact with: packing ring 8|. This slight openingiof: the ports 82 will-: permit pressure'to flow fromthe filling reservoir in. the same path asdesc'i'iibed abovei'o'r. theicounterpresblown from counterpressure tube 30 through the ports 81.

The lifting of operating sleeve 46 during blowout need not be sufiicient to bring the ball 66 into engagement with the intermediate notch 68. Therefore, when the operating arm 36 moves off the blow-out cam, operating sleeve 40 will drop by its own weight to the closed position of Figure 3. Alternatively, an additional cam can be provided to lower sleeve 46 to the Figure 3 position.

It will be observed that the filling head of the present invention permits rapid flow of water into a bottle so that the filling stage will require a minimum period of time. Advantage can be taken of this fact to permit the liquid in the bottle to become quiescent before shifting occurs. In other words, the snifting cam 420 may be so positioned upon the machine that operating lever 36 will not contact therewith for a brief period after the liquid in the bottle has covered the ports 81.

The filling head disclosed herein is of such form that almost all the elements thereof can be formed of tubular stock. This reduces the cost or" material as well as the cost of machining the various parts. In addition, the filling head is of such design that leaking bottles will not be filled.

It will also be observed that the two snift tubes and 32, with sleeve 28, serve to close counterpressure tube from housing iii and that sleeve 28 serves as a path for both counterpressure as well as shifted gases. These arrangements substantially simplify the valve structure required for a counterpressure filling operation.

The terminology used in the specification is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, the scope of the invention being indicated in the following claims.

We claim:

1. A filling head for counterpressure fillers comprising a housing including a lower liquid inlet and an upper gas port respectively adapted to be connected to the liquid and counterpressure gas containing portions of a filling reservoir to provide a liquid containing portion and a superposed counterpressure portion in said housing, a vertical counterpressure tube extending downwardly from the counterpressure containing portion of said housing and having a nozzle positioned below said housing, a liquid outlet port in the lower end. of said housing and surrounding said counterpressure tube, a lower snift tube surrounding said counterpressure tube, a valve fixed to said lower snift tube to control the liquid outlet port of said housing, an upper snift tube coaxial with and spaced above said counterpressure and lower snift tubes, a sleeve depending from said upper snift tube and enclosing the upper end of said counterpressure tube, said sleeve and said counterpressure tube respectively being provided with cooperating valve elements forming a valve to control flow through said counterpressure tube.

2. A filling head for counterpressure fillers comprising a housing including a lower liquid inlet and an upper gas port respectively adapted to be connected to the liquid and counterpressure gas containing portions of a filling reservoir to provide a liquid containing portion and a superposed counterpressure portion in said housing, a vertical counterpressure tube extending downwardly from the counterpressure containing portion of said housing and having a nozzle positioned below said housing, a. liquid outlet port in the lower end of said housing and surrounding said comiterpressure tube, a lower snift tube surrounding said counterpressure tube, a valve fixed to said lower snift tube to control the liquid outlet port of said housing, an upper snift tube coaxial with and spaced above said counterpressure and lower snift tubes, a sleeve depending from said upper snift tube and enclosing the upper end of said counterpressure tube, said sleeve and said counterpressure tube respectively being provided with cooperating valve elements forming a valve to control flow through said counterpressure tube, and said sleeve and said lower snift tube respectively being provided with cooperating valve elements to form a second valve to control flow through said counterpressure tube.

3. A filling head of the character described in claim 2 wherein said two counterpressure valves are independently operable.

4. A filling head of the character described in claim 2 wherein said second counterpressure controlling valve comprises a movable valve element on said sleeve, and a seat and superposed and vertically spaced ports on said lower snift tube.

5. A filling head of the character described in claim 2 including a spring to normally hold said first counterpressure valve closed, a second spring to hold said liquid outlet valve open, a snift valve in said upper snift tube, and means operable to lift said sleeve to open said counterpressure valve, lower all of said tubes to close both said counterpressure valves and said liquid valve and then open said snift valve.

6. A filling head of the character described in claim 5 wherein said springs to hold said first counterpressure valve closed and said liquid outlet valve open are relatively light, and including a relatively strong spring to normally hold said snift valve closed.

7. A filling head of the character described in claim 5 wherein said springs to hold said first counterpressure valve closed and said liquid outlet valve open are relatively light, said actuating means comprises a member vertically movable of said housing and alternately engageable with said upper snift tube and said snift valve, and including a relatively strong spring to normally hold said snift valve closed against opening thereof by said actuating means.

8. A filling head for counterpressure fillers comprising a housing including a lower liquid inlet and an upper gas port respectively adapted to be connected to the liquid and counterpressure gas containing portions of a filling reservior to provide a liquid containing portion and a superposed counterpressure portion in said housing, a vertical counterpressure tube extending downwardly from the counterpressure containing portion of said housing and having a nozzle positioned below said housing, a liquid outlet port in the lower end of said housing and surrounding said counterpressure tube, a lower snift tube surrounding said counterpressure tube, a valve fixed to said lower snift tube to control the liquid outlet port of said housing, an upper snift tube coaxial with and spaced above said counterpressure and lower snift tubes, a sleeve depending from said upper snift tube and enclosing the upper end of said counterpressure tube, said lower and upper snift tubes being movable relative to each other to form counterpressure supply, counterpressure return, and snift passages.

9. A filling head for counterpressure fillers comprising a housing including a lower liquid 13 inlet and an upper gas port respectively adapted to be connected to the liquid and counterpressure gas containing portions of a filling reservoir to provide a liquid containing portion and a superposed counterpressure portion in said housing, a vertical counterpressure tube extending downwardly from the counterpressure containing portion of said housing and having a nozzle positioned below said housing, a liquid outlet port 'in the lower end of said housing and surrounding said counterpressure tube, a lower snift tube surrounding said counterpressure tube, a valve fixed to said lower snift tube to control the liquid outlet port of said housing, an upper snift tube coaxial with and spaced above said counterpressure and lower snift tubes, a sleeve depending from said upper snift tube and enclosing the upper end of said counterpressure tube, said lower and upper snift tubes being movable relative to each other to form counterpressure supply, counterpressure return, and snift passages through said sleeve.

10. A filling head for counterpressure fillers comprising a tubular housing adapted to be secured to a filling reservoir, said housing ineluding a liquid inlet port at its lower portion for connection to the liquid containing area of the reservoir and a gas port at its upper portion for connection to the gas containing area of the reservoir, a counterpressure tube within said housing, a nozzle on the lower end of said tube to extend into a container to be filled, a lower snift tube surrounding said counterpressure tube, said counterpressure tube having a circular seat formed thereon and spaced above its lower end and against which the lower end of said lower snift tube normally seats, said tubular housing being provided with a liquid outlet port at its lower end and in communication with the liquid inlet port of the housing, a liquid outlet valve fixed to and surrounding said lower snift tube, a spring to urge said liquid valve andlower snift tube upwardly to open position of said liquid valve, the upper end of said lower snift tube being provided with upper and lower apertures, an upper snift tube in said housing coaxial with said counterpressure and lower snift tubes, said upper snift tube including a depending sleeve normally enclosing the apertures in said lower snift tube, an upwardly facing valve seat surrounding the upper end of said lower snift tube, the lower end of. said sleeve being adapted to seal against said seat and have sealing engagement with the exterior wall ofjsaid lower snift tube, a second valve in said sleeve to normally close the upper end of said counterpressure tube,

said upper snift tube including a port opening to atmosphere, a third valve normally closing said upper snift tube port, actuating means operable to raise said sleeve to a position wherein the lower end of said sleeve will be intermediate the upper and lower apertures of said lower snift tube and the valve of said sleeve will be raised from the upper end of said counterpressure tube to thereby place the housing gas port in communication with the nozzle of said counterpressure tube; means to lift said liquid valve and counterpressure tube to open said liquid outlet port when the pressure in a container increases to a predetermined value, said actuating means 14 with a vetrical slot into the lower end of which said snift valve upwardly projects, and wherein said actuating means comprises a member vertically movable with respect to said housing and adapted to alternately engage the upper end of said slot or said snift valve.

12. A filling head for counterpressure fillers comprising a housing including a lower liquid inlet and an upper gas port respectively adapted to be connected to the liquid and counterpressure gas containing portions of a filling reservoir to provide a liquid containing portion and a superposed counterpressure portion in said housing, a vertical counterpressure tube extending downwardly from the counterpressure containing portion of said housing and having an outlet below said housing, a lower vertical snift tube having an inlet above the outlet of said counterpressure tube, a liquid outlet in said housing surrounding said tubes, a liquid outlet valve fixed to said lower sniit tube and normally closing the liquid outlet of said housing, an upper snift tube positioned in the counterpressure portion of said housing and including a depending sleeve extending about the upper end of said counterpressure tube, said lower snift tube normally contacting said sleeve to close the upper end of said counterpressure tube from the counterpressure portion of said housing, said two snift tubes normally being in flow communication with each other, a normally closed snift valve to atmosphere in said upper snift tube, actuating means to first raise said sleeve out of contact with said lower snift tube, means acting simultaneously with said actuating means to raise said counterpressure tube by a lesser distance, means to raise said lower snift tube and liquid outlet valve when pressure in a bottle being filled is balanced with the pressure in the counterpressure portion of said housing, said actuating means then being operable to raise said sleeve a further distance with respect to the lower snift tube to permit counterpressure fiow from said counterpressure tube to said housing, and thereafter lower all of said tubes to normal position and open said snift valve.

13. A filling head for counterpressure fillers comprising a housing adapted to be fixed to the periphery of a filling reservoir rotatable with and above vertically reciprocable container supporting platforms, a flow nozzle depending from said housing, reciprocable valve elements in said housing to control flow of liquid and counterpressure, a container centering bell, a rod fixed to said bell and vertically reciprocable in said housing, an operating lever for said valve elements pivoted with respect to said housing on a horizontal axis, said rod and lever being free of each other when the bell is in lowered position,

said rod being of such vertical length as to serve as a fulcrum for said lever when the rod is raised with said centering bell.

14. A filling head of the character described in claim 13 wherein said operating lever is pivoted upon a sleeve vertically reciprocable with respect to said housing.

15. A filling head of the characte described in claim 13 wherein said operating lever is pivoted upon a sleeve vertically reciprocable with respect to said housing, and means is provided to hold said sleeve stationary upon said housing in positions to which said lever may operate the sleeve.

16. A filling head for counterpressure fillers comprising a housingincluding a lower liquid inlet and an upper gas p rt respectively adapted to beconneeted to. the liquid and counterpressure gas containing portionsoi a filling reservoir 0 provide a liquid containing portion and a supe posed counterpressure portion in said housing, a vertical oounterpressure tube extending down wardly from the counterpressure containing por tion of said housing and having a nozzle positioned below said housing a liquid outlet p go in the lower end of said housing and alongside said counterpressure tube, a valve to control now through said counterpressure tube, a valv to control flow through said liquid passage, and a shift tube structure coaxial with and surround ing said counterpressure tube, said liquid now controlling valve being fixed to said shift,

17. A filling head for counterpressure fillers comprising a housing including a lower liquid inlet and an upper gas port respectively adapted to be connected to the liquid. and eounterpressure ga containing portions of a filling reservoir to provide a li.uid containing portion and a superposed counterpressure portion in said housing, a vertical counterpressure tibe extending down" wardly from the countermeasure containing portion of said housing and having a nozzle positioned below said housing a liquid outlet passage in the lower end-of said housing and alongside said counterpressure tube, a valve to control through said counterpressure tube, a valve to control flow through said liquid passage, 9, shift tube structure coaxial with and surrounding counterpressure tube, said liquid flow controlling valve being fixed to said snift tube, and a valve to control flow through said sniit tube.

18. A filling head for counterpressure fillers comprising a housing including a lower liquid inlet and an upper gas port respectively adapted to be connected to the liquid and counterpressure gas containing portions of a filling reservoir to provide a liquid containing portion and a superposed counterpressure portion in said housing, a vertical counterpressure tube extending downwardly from the counterpressure containing portion of said housing and having a nozzle positioned below said housing, a liquid outlet passage in the lower end of said housing and. alongside said counterpressure tube, a valve to control flow through said counterpressure tube, a valve to control flow through said liquid passage, and a shift tube structure coaxial with and at least a portion of which surrounds said counterpressure tube, said tubes being axially movable relative to each other and respectively being provided with cooperating valve elements forming valve devices to control flow through said tubes.

.19. A filling head for counterpressure fillers comprising a housing including. a lower liquid inlet and an upper gas port respectively adapted to be connected to the liquidv and counterpressure gas containing portions of a filling reservoir to provide a liquid containing portion and asuperposed counterpressure portion in said housing, a vertical counterpressure tube extending downwardly from the counterpressure containing portion of said housing and having-a nozzlev positioned below said housing, a liquid outlet passage in the lower end of said housing and alongside said counterpressure tube, a valve to control'flow through said counterpressure tube, a valve to control flow through said liquid passage, and a snift tube structure coaxial with and at least a portion of which surrounds said counterpressure tube, said tubes being axially movable relative to each other and respectively being provided with cooperating valve elements forming valve devices to control flow through said tubes, the valve devices to control flow through said snift tube being arranged in tandem.

20. A filling head for counterpressure fillers comprising a housing including a lower liquid inlet and an upper gas port respectively adapted to be connected to the liquid and counterpressure gas containing portions of a filling reservoir to provide a liquid containing portion and a superposed counterpressure portion in said housing, a vertical oounterpressure tube extending downwardly from the counterpressure containing portion of said housing and having a nozzle positioned below said housing, a liquid outlet passage in the lower end ofsaid housing and alongside said counterpressure tube, a valve to control flow through said counterpressure tube, a valve to control how through said liquid passage, and a sniit tube structure coaxial with and at least a portion of which surrounds said-counterpressure tube, said tubes being axially movable relative to each other and respectively being provided with cooperating valve elements forming valve devices to control flow through said tubes, the valve devices to control flow through said snift tube being arranged in tandem, means being provided to prevent operation of one of the shift tube valve devices to open position until after the counterpressure valve device has been closed.

References Cited in. the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

